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"I want to erase the boundaries between people with disabilities and people without disabilities."

Miyu Okada, 4th year doctoral student, Graduate Graduate School of Sport Sciences

In front of Waseda Campus Building No. 3

Okada established Knockü, a general incorporated association, in 2022, and runs parasports events and communities that people with or without disabilities can participate in, as well as educational training programs through parasports. At Waseda University Graduate School, she researched the effects of parasports projects, and was selected as a member of the Japan Sports Agency's "Working Group for the Promotion of Sports for People with Disabilities,'' where she also makes public announcements. We asked Okada, who approaches para sports from various aspects, about how she became interested in para sports, why she decided to go to graduate school, her activities with the general incorporated association Knockü, and her future plans.

--What made you interested in parasports?

My parents were Faculty at a special needs school, and I had been playing handball for 11 years, so I had an interest in both supporting people with disabilities and sports. When I was in my third year of university, I happened to have the opportunity to volunteer for a parasports event, and that sparked my interest. After that, I listened to a lecture given by Dr. Horst Stroukendel, Professor emeritus of the University of KÖLN, who works to popularize para sports in Germany, an advanced country for para sports, when he came to Japan, and learned the techniques for operating a wheelchair. That was so interesting. Para sports have mechanisms and rules that allow people with and without disabilities to participate together, and in wheelchair sports in particular, instead of the minority side (people with disabilities) adjusting to the majority side (non-disabled people), the majority side It was even more appealing because we could enjoy sports together in a way that was tailored to minorities. I think my desire to learn more about parasports led me to study abroad in Germany.

Wheelchair handball being played as a Knockü activity

--What did you learn while studying abroad in Germany?

In Germany, I attended many of Dr. Horst Strokendel's classes and seminars. In addition, while touring sports clubs throughout Germany, I learned first-hand how people with and without disabilities play sports together. In Germany, there are private sports clubs in every region that are run mainly by local residents and citizens and are accessible to people with disabilities, and exercising at sports clubs is very familiar to people with disabilities. I was shocked.

On the other hand, in Japan, there are major hurdles for people with disabilities to use private sports facilities. This is because people with disabilities are expected to play in special and prioritized sports facilities for people with disabilities, and there are only 25 such facilities nationwide. This gave me a strong desire to create a sports environment in Japan that is rooted in the local community, and where there are no boundaries between people with disabilities and those without disabilities.

Left photo: Dr. Horst Strokendel instructing a physical therapist from Japan in the operating technique of raising the casters of a wheelchair.
Photo right: Para sports event in Germany

--After returning from Germany, you entered Waseda University Graduate Graduate School of Sport Sciences. Please tell us the reason for this and the content of your research at graduate school.

In August of this year, at an academic conference presentation in Malaysia. She raised the issue of the current situation in parasports projects where measures are being developed without setting clear goals or performance indicators. She hopes that as the effects become more visible, the amount of investment for solving social issues and contributing to society will increase.

After studying abroad in Germany, I realized that the reality of para sports changes greatly depending on the country's policies and measures, and after that I became very interested in the structure of the para sports business and wanted to study it more deeply. Waseda's graduate school was famous for its research on sports business and local sports clubs, and I had senior students there who were participating in international academic conferences, so I decided to go to Waseda thinking that I would be able to take on a variety of challenges. 

Currently, I am a member of the seminar of Professor Seiichi Sakuno (Faculty of Sport Sciences), who specializes in comprehensive regional sports clubs and organizational theory, and am researching the effects of parasports projects. Specifically, we evaluate the impact that having a sports club that allows people with disabilities to participate has on local communities and people with disabilities.

--In 2022, you will establish Knockü, a general incorporated association.

We launched Knockü to create an environment where people can participate in parasports, regardless of whether they have a disability or not. In fact, we started our activities as a voluntary organization almost at the same time as I entered university in 2020, but due to the pandemic, our activities were mainly online. We received requests for lectures from schools and other organizations that saw the information we sent out on Knockü, and we realized that it is important to be a trustworthy organization in order to receive work, so we decided to become a general incorporated association in February 2022. Did.

At first, I started with no money, no friends, no track record, and only a solid vision. It was very difficult because I had to build everything from scratch on my own. Looking back now, it was like a thorny road up to this point. For example, wheelchairs used in parasports are expensive at 200,000 to 300,000 yen each, and when we called private companies to ask for funding, we were often turned down. Additionally, there were other issues, such as the limited number of gymnasiums that were wheelchair accessible. As I gradually built a track record, I gradually gained more and more friends who sympathized with my vision, as well as companies and facilities that cooperated with me.

A photo with Knockü founding members. The name "Knockü'' comes from the closed-mindedness of people with disabilities who think that they will not be understood by people with disabilities, and the sense of distance that people with disabilities unconsciously have toward people with disabilities. On the other hand, it contains the wish that we could knock on the door of each other's hearts and understand each other.

Currently, we operate Knockü SC (Knockü Sports Club), providing a team environment where people can play sports regardless of their disability or competitive orientation. We also run a wheelchair handball tournament called the Knockü Cup, which anyone can participate in according to their level. At the request of local governments, we also carry out activities to popularize parasports, such as setting up a wheelchair handball booth at parasports events.

Photos of Knockü SC members

--By the way, you are also a member of the Japan Sports Agency's "Working Group for the Promotion of Sports for People with Disabilities.''

To study abroad in Germany, I took advantage of the study abroad promotion campaign "Tobitate! Study Abroad JAPAN" run by Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and the person I became close with through that connection was recommended to the Japan Sports Agency's "Working Group for the Promotion of Sports for People with Disabilities." I will be participating from December 2022. Each conference has a theme, and last time it was about the use of sports facilities for people with disabilities. When I proposed that there should be a system in which places for people with disabilities to play sports should be gradually transferred from dedicated facilities to local sports clubs, I was asked to include it in the report, I felt that my opinions were reflected in the measures taken.

――Please tell us about your future plans, Okada.

I went to Germany to study for two weeks in March of this year, and I interviewed eight sports club managers directly, and I learned that people with disabilities can enjoy sports on a daily basis. I have renewed my desire to implement the German system in Japan as well. To that end, I would like to first expand my activities at Knockü, and by continuing to research the parasports business, I would like to approach national measures and policies from an academic perspective as well. It may take some time, but I will continue to try and believe that I can do it someday.

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Interview/text/photography: Waseda Weekly Reporter (SJC student staff)
Hinari Ukiya, 2nd year School of Culture, Media and Society